I tried supermarket BBQ sauces – here's why an 89p own-brand is the very best to stick on your burger

The Sun

02-05-2025

IT'S the bank holiday weekend, so dust off that barbecue – and try not to burn your bangers and burgers.
If you want to make your charcoal meat and veggie treats that little bit tastier, there is an abundance of sauces for you to choose from.
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But which sizzling bottle is the best?
Laura Stott rates the supermarkets ' selection.
House BBQ Sauce, 300g, £2, M&S stores and Ocado.com
THIS comes in a fancy glass bottle, so it looks posh, and is also good for recycling.
However, it means you can't pour the sauce out by squeezing and it decants in dollops.
So if you only want a little squirt on your burger it is a bit more wasteful.
That said, this is a truly tasty and top-quality sauce.
It is made with 16 per cent fruity tomato paste layered up with salty soy and sweet apple and miso tastes.
There is a nice hit of smoky paprika and a good wallop of chilli and garlic, too.
Would pair perfectly with any grilled meats, cheeses or veggies – and is good enough to be a stand-alone dip.
Rating: 4/5
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Red's Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce, 320g, £1.84, Asda
I LOVE the fun packaging of this American -themed sauce, which is ideal for anyone binge-watching Yellowstone and who now thinks they live on a fancy ranch.
Even in a UK garden, it still brings a bit of drama with its intense, almost plum-coloured appearance.
Sadly, I haven't been to Kansas so I can't confirm if it delivers the authentic taste of the state, but it did go rather nicely with my veggie burger.
Quite a mild flavour, which surprised me as I anticipated a bit more heat.
But it's beautifully balanced with plenty of chipotle genuine smoke, which gives real depth of character.
Very runny, so do take care when you squeeze it out as it does gush a bit. Tasty!
Rating: 4/5
BBQ Sauce, 440g, 81p, Tesco
AT well under a quid for a bottle, this is a banging barbie bargain.
So even if you only pull it out of the cupboard once a year, you won't feel like you have wasted your cash.
It is very sweet and tastes fine, but if you have bought some delicious meat, veggies or even fish to cook over the coals, it is a bit of a shame to then smother them in this much sugar.
The caramel taste is dominant and it comes with smoke flavouring.
It has a runnier consistency so it would be great as a marinade – or just for dunking your potato wedges into.
Not brilliant – but not bland either.
Rating: 3/5
BBQ Sauce, 450g, £1.25, Morrisons
DESPITE its somewhat watery consistency, it's still smooth – just take care when you squeeze on to your burgers as it might be runnier than you were expecting.
A perfectly pleasant flavour with a strong fruity tomato taste and a zesty kick thanks to the chilli, ginger and pimento.
That said, I do like some spice and additional punch, so if you are not a fan of chilli you may want to opt for a milder alternative.
Would be great as a marinade for chicken or meatier fish such as tuna.
With its touch of fire I think this one would be good used as a relish on top of meat or veggie burgers, too, squashed into a nice white bun of course.
Rating: 4/5
Classic BBQ Sauce, 460g, £1.20, Asda
ITS dirty brown colour was a little off-putting, but fortunately it tasted better than it looked.
There are minimal ingredients, with the predominant flavour being tomatoes, so it is very fruity.
I could also detect cloves and black pepper, with a waft of garlic, but the sauce was very sweet.
I was not at all sure about the inclusion of smoke flavouring, which reminded me somewhat of a scented candle.
True smokiness from flavours such as paprika would be preferable.
However, it does taste OK, the consistency is good and it's very easy to decant.
Well priced and I doubt anyone would complain about a dollop of this to dunk sausages into.
Rating: 3/5
Bramwells Original BBQ Sauce, 480g, 89p, Aldi
GREAT value and there is enough inside to see you through a good few sunny sessions this summer.
This is quite a thick and gloopy sauce, but it has a lovely shine to it and looks glossy and enticing when you squidge it out.
There's a scent of molasses, too.
Its fruity and sweet taste makes it very moreish. If you start dipping your grilled veggies in, before you know it the bottle will be half empty.
It could do with a bit more smoke and substance, but you will get that from your cooking anyway.
Overall, this sauce will pair well and won't overpower your eats.
Would also be a great partner for a bit of corn on the cob.
Rating: 4/5
BBQ Sauce, 500g, £1.15, Sainsbury's
THE price is good for the size of bottle, but the contents were a little middle of the road.
The packet says it is sweet and tangy but I would have preferred far less sugar.
There is an almost sickly-sweet smell to this dressing, and with glucose-fructose syrup and sugar cane molasses both listed as ingredients, that's not really surprising.
There is a very mild tickle of heat from pimento pepper and chilli powder but I would have preferred a much bigger punch to make the sauce more balanced.
If you like sweet flavours, it's likely you will love it – and it's bound to be a hit with kids. An affordable accompaniment.
Rating: 2/5
Batts Barbecue Sauce, 500g, 89p, Lidl
THERE is great value for money here – and what awaits inside delivers on flavour, too.
Very spicy and smoky, with a nicely curated mix of tastes.
You get plenty of fruitiness from tomato but there is a powerful zing and zest that ups the excitement levels and stops this sauce from being too one note and boring.
There is enough chilli to keep me happy, without being overwhelming for those who don't like their heat that hot.
This is the best bottle for carnivores as the rich tang would taste great with traditional griddled meats such as burgers, sausages and steaks.
It would make a decent fish or chicken marinade as well.